Mariana and the Merchild – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Mythical, illustrated, nautical, fantasy, imaginative.
Children’s book title: Mariana and the Merchild.
Children’s author: Caroline Pitcher.
Children’s illustrator: Jackie Morris.
Genre: Picture book for older children.
Published by: Otter-Barry Books.
ISBN: 9781915659460.
Recommended for children aged: 4+ year-olds.
This edition: Hardback August 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: Emerging readers.
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Our review:
An old woman lived alone in a hut by the sea. Her name was Mariana.
The sea has been Mariana’s constant companion throughout her life, providing her with fish to eat and wood for her fires. Shunned by the village children, whom she longs to befriend, Mariana lives a quiet and rather lonely life on the beach.
Although she loves the sea, Mariana also fears it, dreading the sea-wolves that emerge from the waves during storms. One morning, after a particularly vicious storm, Mariana makes a startling discovery in a rock pool.
It was a baby girl, with hair the colour of the setting sun, and skin that gleamed like a rosy pearl, and a fish’s tail with scales of silver.
Mariana immediately falls in love with the child and vows to do all that she can to protect her. The village Wise Woman tells Mariana that the child is a Merbaby, hidden by her Sea Spirit mother during the storm to keep her safe from the sea-wolves.
The Wise Woman tells Mariana that she must return the child to her mother, but when she tries to do so, the Sea Spirit begs Mariana to keep her child for a while longer as she is still in danger from the sea-wolves.
So Mariana and the Merchild lived together in the ramshackle hut, safe from the restless sea. It was the happiest time of the old woman’s life.
Every day the child’s mother comes to feed her and teach her how to swim. And every day Mariana falls in love with her foster daughter even more. She is no longer lonely and even the village children have become friendly, attracted by their mysterious new playmate. But Mariana knows that the child is not truly hers and that one day soon she will have to say a heart-breaking goodbye.
Mariana and the Merchild is a traditional folktale from Chile. The text is lyrical and calming, making the book a perfect bedtime read.
Jackie Morris’ gorgeous watercolour paintings really bring the story to life. They add a gentle, almost ethereal, atmosphere to the tale and deserve to be pored over in detail to truly appreciate their beauty.
Mariana and the Merchild is a charming tale of love and kindness that will appeal to existing fans of Jackie Morris and those who have yet to discover her beautiful picture books.
Many thanks to Otter-Barry Books for the review copy.
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If you like Mariana and the Merchild by Caroline Pitcher and Jackie Morris you might also like: our reviews of Galápagos Islands by Karen Romano Young, Solstice: Around the World on the Longest, Shortest Day by Jen Breach, Storm Dragon by Dianne Hofmeyr and Carol Thompson, Shark Super Powers by Jillian Morris & Duncan Brake, and our list of Books for bored children.
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